[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 228 (Monday, November 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59893-59894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29987]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, DOI.

ACTION: Notice of information collection solicitation.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Minerals 
Management Service (MMS) is soliciting comments on an information 
collection, the Payor Information Form for Oil and Gas (OMB Control 
Number 1010-0033). The Royalty Policy Committee recommendations and the 
Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996 may 
require MMS to make changes to this information collection. MMS is 
evaluating both of these issues.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before January 24, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments sent via the U.S. Postal Service should be sent to: 
Minerals Management Service, Royalty

[[Page 59894]]

Management Program, Rules and Procedures Staff, P.O. Box 25165, MS 
3101, Denver, Colorado, 80225-0165; courier address is: Building 85, 
Room A-212, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225; e:Mail 
address is: David__G[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis C. Jones, Rules and Procedures 
Staff, phone (303) 231-3046, FAX (303) 231-3194, e-Mail 
Dennis__J[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, Section 3506 (c)(2)(A), each agency shall provide notice 
and otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies 
concerning this collection of information in order to solicit comment 
to: (a) evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) 
evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    The MMS is requesting the continuation of this collection of 
information, the Payor Information Form for Oil and Gas. However, the 
Royalty Policy Committee recommendations and the Federal Oil and Gas 
Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996, signed August 13, 
1996, may require MMS to make changes to this information collection. 
MMS is evaluating both of these issues.
    The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to prescribe rules and 
regulations to accomplish the purpose of applicable Federal laws. MMS 
performs the royalty management functions for the Secretary, who is 
responsible for the collection of royalties from lessees who produce 
minerals from leased Federal and Indian lands. The MMS has developed 
computer applications that document payment and sales volumes and 
values as reported by payors and also track minerals from the point of 
production to the point of disposition, royalty determination, or point 
of sale. Payor data enables MMS to provide reliable, comprehensive 
sources of information for Federal, State, and Indian auditors and 
inspectors checking payors and lease operators, as required by Federal 
Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (FOGRMA). Failure to collect 
some of the PIF information would make it impossible for MMS to comply 
with FOGRMA Section 101(a) and assure that proper royalties are 
collected for mineral production from a given lease.
    The consolidated database developed by MMS provides the agency the 
ability to verify that proper royalties are being received for minerals 
produced. This database is an essential part of an overall effort to 
improve the management of the nation's mineral resources and to ensure 
proper collection and accounting for revenues due from companies 
removing and processing oil and gas products from Federal or Indian 
leases. PIF information comprises an integral part of the consolidated 
database establishing the payor(s) for producing leases and payor 
accounts on these leases, and updating relevant payor information. This 
information collection identifies the payor(s) who pays rent, royalty 
or minimum royalty to MMS and identifies the products on which these 
payments are made.
    Approximately 1,700 active oil and gas payors will submit an 
estimated 25,000 initial and updated PIF's annually. MMS estimates that 
it will take approximately 12,500 burden hours to complete these PIF's, 
or an average of \1/2\ hour per PIF. MMS further estimates that it will 
take approximately 850 burden hours for all payors to perform the 
necessary record keeping directly related to the PIF, or an average of 
\1/2\ hour per payor. Therefore, the total burden hours for this 
information collection is estimated to be 13,350 burden hours. At an 
estimated cost of $25 per burden hour, the total estimated cost to 
respondents is $333,750.

    Dated: November 13, 1996.
James W. Shaw,
Associate Director for Royalty Management.
[FR Doc. 96-29987 Filed 11-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P